Types of Regions

Jan 9, 2012

1. Functional (nodal) The characteristics of interest dominates from a central focus/node and diminishes in importance outwards Ex. Newspaper circulation region People like Hamilton enjoy the Hamilton newspaper but it is not relevant in Calgary. 2. Formal (uniform) An area where everyone shares a distinctive characteristic (most regions in this course are of this variety) Some formal regions reflect predominant (not universal) characteristics Ex. Within a region a vast majority speaks a particular language, but NOT everyone must. Single-feature vs. Multi-featured Regions Single Featured: regions delineated based on one geographic feature or characteristic (ex. Language) Multi Featured: regions delineated based on a number of different features or characteristics (ex. Language and climate) Homogeneity and Heterogeneity Regions are areas with a general uniformity. They must have the following: 1. Internal Homogeneity Within the boundaries of the region, there is a general uniformity 2. External Heterogeneity Outside the boundaries of the region things are generally different If this is not the case, why does the boundary not extend further? Boundaries and Transitional Areas Each region has definable boundaries with transitional zones rather than a sharp or precise boundary Characteristics gradually transition from one to another rather than abruptly changing Ex. USA southwest

o Mostly English speaking on the southwest side of the USA border, but gradually becomes more Spanish speaking as you move further into Mexico Regional Boundaries 1. Natural: mountain range, river 2. Human: political boundary, lines of latitude 3. Visible 4. Invisible Ex. Great Plains/Prairies Region Short Transition: Western boundary into Rocky Mountain region Medium Transition: Northern boundary in Alberta to Canadian Boreal forest region Long Transition: Eastern boundary into American Heartland (Illinois, Indiana etc) o Boundary goes from predominantly wheat belt to the corn belt Data and Regional Statistics Regions frequently do not conform to political jurisdictions o Ex. Great Plains/Prairies Part of 3 countries (Canada, USA and Mexico) Part of 11 American states Part of 3 Canadian provinces Not all of each state/province in this region o Only 5 states are almost totally in this region This brings into question: how would we determine the population of this region? Answer: very difficult

Places: Identity and Landscape Place: a location with some significant meaning of identity (can range from a small monument to a whole city to a region etc) Humans have a strong sense of place Sense of place is the particular feelings we get from these particular places These feelings can be either good or bad o Ex. Disney World vs. Auschwitz Places are part of peoples individual (Ex. childhood home) and collective memories (Ex. World Trade Centre) We refer to places by their place names (Toponym) o Places are often names to either give them an identity or meaning OR to reflect the identity or meaning that is already attached to it

Jan 10, 2012 Regions are defined by characteristics (or themes) o Ex. Deep south USA defined by racial problems throughout history Regional themes vary with spatial scale o Ex. New York is defined as a major city, whereas Chinatown (subsection of New York) is defined by its culture Some themes cover all regions and are broad, over-arching themes

Urbanization 75-80% of the population of the USA is defined to live in urban areas o Handful of very large cities (Houston, Chicago etc.) o Large number of cities that are significant urban areas (greater than 1 million population) This value is opposite to that of the first US census in 1790, where 90% of the population were farmers in rural areas o This value is now 5% o The most urban area in the US is the Northeast (Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, Detroit etc.) Special area in this area is known as Megalopolis, which is a major urban center Industrialization Urbanization leads to industrialization In Northeast there is Motor City (Detroit) where the city is centered on car and car part manufacturing Mobility US has high rates of residential mobility o 1/5 US residents move each and every year Push and pull factors in migration o Push Factors conditions that exist at the current location Ex. Job market is poor and no opportunities o Pull Factors conditions that lure someone to a specific area Ex. Job opportunities There is a generalized history and geography of US migration o Western Expansion (1700s 1800s) Settlement of interior and western communities from the Eastern coast o Rural to Urban centers (20th century) o Complex directional movement in the direction of service industries (21st century) Ex. Leaving cold climates and industrial zones and heading to warmer climates

Resources Economy is based on the vast amount of resources available o Agriculture Abundance of land and one of the leaders in food production It could support its population 2 to 3 times larger than its own, hence exporting goods Ex. California (fruits), Iowa (corn), Louisiana (cotton) o Raw Materials Precious metals such as Copper, gold, zinc etc. Wealth and Consumerism The US is the most wealthy society in the world o Despite this there are many wealth inequalities o One of the most unequal distribution of wealth in the world o Creates large areas of poverty (Ex. Appalachia and deep South) Appalachia used to be a major coal producer, now is poverty stricken Very little poverty affected northeastern states This leads to a culture of consumerism Cultural Milieu The US is a nation of immigrants (free and forced) o Several hundreds of years ago the US mostly consisted of European immigrants, African slaves, American Indians o In the past hundred years immigrants from Asia, Latin America and Africa have arrived The broad spectrum of immigrants enriches the culture This has positive effects such as music, food and political views Has negative effects such as intolerance and prejudice Read Chapter 2 * Jan 12, 2012 The Physical Environment Physiographic regions o Based on physical landforms or features (earth moving processes (geomorphology) such as mountain ranges, rivers, fault lines) o The US is comprised of 4 major physiographic features: Eastern coastal plateau Relatively flat landscape Embayed (many bays and estuaries) o Ex. Cape Cod, Florida Eastern Mountains

Appalachian Mountains and others (ex. White mountains, Adirondack Mountains) Mountains are around 4000 feet in height, but can be over 8000 feet in height Central Lowlands Large flat area, lies between eastern and western mountains Largest of the four features Very flat and fertile (agriculturally active) Western Mountains Comprised of Coastal Mountain range, Rockies, and Intermontane area between the two (tends to be dry and arid) o Ex. Arizona

o Good image that depicts all four is the cross sectional topographic profile along 40 latitude Jan 16, 2012 The 10 Physiographic Regions 1. Gulf Atlantic Coastal Plain Flat region with a gentle slope towards the sea Technically extends into the ocean (ex. Coastal Shelf) Embayed, has many estuaries and bays Extends from New England to Florida to Texas 2. Piedmont The Foot Hills of the Appalachian mountains Very clear line of demarcation, which allows delineation between the Gulf Atlantic and itself o Known as the Fall Line, which is an escarpment that easily differentiates the two regions Topographically is similar to the Gulf Atlantic, BUT has rolling hills Extends from Alabama to Virginia/Maryland (Eastern side of the Appalachian mountains) Includes the Blue Ridge Mountains 3. Appalachian Highlands Consist of Old mountains great deal of erosion (rounded peaks etc.) Extends from Alabama to Gulf of St. Lawrence One of the worst regions for agriculture (aside from small subsections of the region)

Economic activities include mining and forestry Barrier to both settlement (very little humans) and transportation (very few access points across the Appalachians)

4. Interior Highlands (Ozark Mountains) Consists of Ozarks Mountains which are mostly located in Arkansas and Missouri 5. The Canadian Shield On of three physiographic regions that comprises the Central Lowlands feature Extends only through Upper Great Lakes (very little USA influence), but comprises much of Canada Not a major settlement region due to glaciation during the ice ages. o Removes much of the fertile soil (Pleistocene) Extends through Michigan, Minnesota (Land of 10 000 Lakes) etc. 6. Interior Lowlands Part of vast Central Lowlands Extends from Great Lakes basin to Texas Has rolling hills Due to glaciation in region above, has very fertile soil and therefore is the greatest region of agricultural production (ex. Corn, wheat, soy beans) 7. The Great Plains Extends from east of the Rockies to the west of the Interior Lowlands Has a clear line of delineation of the western side (Near Rockies), but less obvious delineation on the eastern side Is known as the Heartland and Bread Basket o Fertile soil, but very little precipitation therefore tends to grow wheat 8. The Rocky Mountains Comprised of New mountains (sharp peaks with less erosion) Very high elevation 9. Intermontane Region Plateau surrounded by two sets of mountains (Rockies and Coastal Mountains) Has high varied topography

10. Pacific Coast Region Comprised of many mountains due to being located in the Ring of Fire o Location of great seismic/volcanic activity o Highly prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions o USA volcanoes ex. Mount St. Helen Significant points of elevation o Highest elevation in North America Mt. McKinley, Alaska (20320 feet) Jan 17, 2012 Climate vs. Weather - Climate: based on long term averages of temperature and precipitation - Weather: particular conditions that exist in any given day - US climate: seasonal variations o West coast: winter is wet, dry summer o S ON: summer is hot and wet, winter is cold and dry - Weather systems move from west to east (Pacific to NA continent) - Hurricanes come up from south and move up Factors Affecting Climate Latitude o Distance north or south of the equator o Further north gets more heat radiation in summer than in winter causing seasonality to be more pronounced Proximity to large bodies of water o Continentally: places further away from water tend to have larger seasonal fluctuations; temp and ppt changes more abruptly o water changes temperature more slowly than land, so keeps temperatures more constant o maritime: more moderate temperature; not as extreme o ocean currents: bring conditions through cycling of oceans o precipitation: more ppt but less variation in temperature Topography o Higher elevation are cooler than lower o Orographic precipitation The 7 Climate Regions 1. Humid Subtropical SE regions, mild winters, hot summers Minimal amount of variation (Florida in Jan vs July same) Year round precip. 2. Humid Continental (Canada) 35 N latitude warm, mild summers, and cold winters

 heaviest amount of ppt in warmer months (summer) climatic variation 3. Steppe (Great Plains) Semi arid (pretty dry) Middle of continent, significant seasonal variation Most prone to significant weather (tornado) 4. Desert Southern parts of Intermontane region Between Rockies and coastal mountains Inland of southern parts (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada) Extremely dry, year round, very hot 5. Mediterranean Coastal inland Precipitation in winter, not summer 6. Marine West Coast Wettest part Summer is more dry than winter Move more inland, move up in elevation, more torrential rain (temperate rainforest) 7. Undifferentiated Highlands Temperatures decrease as you go up in elevation Most precipitation is snow o Accumulates in tops of mountains (drinking water source for dry areas in western parts of US) N/S line to delineate E/W: to the E, most significant variation in temperature, W precipitation Severe Weather Hurricanes Typical spatial and seasonal pattern: end of summer, into fall when Atlantic water are warmest to produce storms Risk zones: Gulf of Mexico, Florida, Carolina, Georgia etc. Tornadoes: typical spatial and seasonal pattern occurs in the spring (loosing cold winter, mixing with hot/warm) tornado alley texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri Joplin Missouri (may 2011) devastating tornado in loss in life/property damage NorEasters: Heat indexes; Chicago impacted by heat alerts upper 30 low 40 Storms Hail: mix of warm air mass hitting cooler air, like tornado, but in great plains Climate change

Elements, symtoms or indicators o Temperature, precipitation fluctuates o Extreme weather events Causes: natural events altering climate (ice age), natural causes volcanic activity, alteration in rotation of the earth Human induced: burning of fossil fuels Impacts: melting of ice caps increases sea levels, leading to increased coastal flooding (along embayed coast, have increased risk of coastal flooding) Food availability, health impacts (disease)

Jan 19, 2012 Vegetation Regions Regions defined by the dominant character and appearance of the vegetation and forests o Natural forms of vegetation, not ones introduced by humans o Human activity has permanently altered the distribution of natural plants Vegetation zones overlaps with human economic activity, climate, and physiography Three primary forms of vegetation: o Forests Three main forest zones in the US based on Hardwood and softwoods Deciduous and coniferous o Grasslands Areas of insufficient precipitation therefore cannot support tree growth Ex. Central lowlands (tends to be on western most sides) Two main forms of grasses Long grasses (more precipitationEastern parts of plains) Short grasses o Shrublands Arid or semi-arid conditions Cannot even grow grasses Vegetation tends to be woody or cactus Ex. Central Texas, inter-montane areas, southwest etc. These three vegetation types are divided into 8 vegetation regions o From west to east the regions tend to go as follows: Shrublands (3) Grasslands (2) Forests (3) Exception is Northwest Washington state forests The 8 Vegetation Regions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Subtropical Evergreen Forests Mid-latitude Deciduous (mixed) Forests Cold Needle-Leaf Coniferous Forests Tall-Grass Prairies Short-Grass Prairies Desert Shrubland Semi-Desert Shrubland Mediterranean Shrubland

PUT MAP
Unlike climate and physiographic regions, there is greater variation and uncertainty in the precise boundaries of the vegetation regions

Water And America Water resources are critical are to understand settlement and economic activities of the US Water used for many tasks ranging from drinking, irrigation, transportation, industry etc. Hydrographic Regions o An area of drainage by one major river system (a drainage basin) o 4 fundamental hydrographic regions in the US The 4 Hydrographic Regions 1. Great Lakes (St. Lawrence River) 2. Gulf/Atlantic (Mississippi-Missouri Rivers) largest hydrographic region 3. Atlantic (East of Appalachia) smallest hydrographic region 4. Pacific (West of Rocky Mountains)

PUT MAP
River systems and canals are key for human activity and settlement o Ex. Mississippi and St. Lawrence are critical for early US economic success (for traveling goods etc.)

Jan 23, 2012 Mineral Resources in the USA Economically significant mineral fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) o Found in areas with sedimentary rock (millions of years of vegetative decay) Metallic minerals (copper, gold, iron, nickel and zinc etc.) o Found in areas with metamorphic rock (created through heat and pressure) o Found in three primary areas:

Appalachia and Piedmont Western Mountains Canadian Shield

Oil and Gas Deposits found in three main areas of the USA: o Appalachia o Texas o Gulf of Mexico (and offshore) Coal Used for heating (not so much recently), steel and electricity Major source of pollution as burning of coal releases many toxins Deposits found in four main areas in the USA: o Appalachia (tends to be #1 source of coal) o Eastern Interior o Western Interior Both part of Central Lowlands o Great Plains/Rockies

Mineral Metals There is an increased demand for these metals, yet a declining supply Deposits found in three main areas in the USA: o Appalachia and Piedmont o Western Mountains o Canadian Shield